Permanent waving



Nov. 19, 1935. H, N, DURHAM' 2,021,294

PERMANENT WAVING Original Filed Nov. 7, 1935 22/72 1 4i I I ATTOR Y Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PERMANENT WAVING Hobart N. Durham, Munsey Park, Manhasset,

N. Y., assignor to Eugene, Ltd., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 7, 1933, Serial No. 696,980 Renewed March 13, 1935 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to permanent waving and more particularly to a novel and improved low voltage permanent waving machine for use in direct current districts.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalitiesand combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the device shown in Figure 1.

Heretofore, certain permanent waving machines have been provided adapted to be operated on low voltages, such as 2 and 3.5 volts and the current supply for such machines has been obtained from the usual domestic power lines- (110, 120 or 220 volts) by means of a step-down transformer. Such machines are electrically satisfactory, and can be made practical where a source of alternating current is available, but where the only power supply is direct current, it has been the almost universal practice to employ a rotary converter or dynamotor to supply the primary of the transformer with alternating current at 110-120 volts. This practice has necessitated the use of both a transformer and converter or dynamotor, and is attended with the usual unreliability of such machines when operated without skilled servicing. The high amperage requirements of the permanent waving machine at low voltage render it impractical to operate all the heating elements in parallel due to the difficulties of commutation and the large conductors required, and on the other hand, it is not practical to operate the heating elements in series due to the widely varying number of such elements used at difierent times.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a low-voltage permanent waving machine which may be satisfactorily operated on I direct current supply, is p simple to use,

requires little servicing, can cope with any normal conditions of operation and avoids the use of a transformer as well as rotary converters.

As embodied, the permanent waving machine of the present invention comprises a motor- 5 generator, adapted to operate on direct current at normal domestic line voltage (110 or 220 volts), and to generate current, preferably alternating current, at a low voltage, preferably only two or three times the normal operating voltage for the 10 individual curl heaters. This low voltage is supplied through relatively heavy conductors to a pair of distributing rings which may be supported above the customers head to be waved, and one or more common conductor rings are 15 positioned adjacent to said first rings. The individual curl heaters are divided into a plurality of groups, two or three, and those of each group are connected in parallel with each other, while the groups are connected in series with each other by 30 means of the several distributor rings. The number of the groups of heaters is equal to the generator output voltage divided by the voltage to be applied to each heater, so that each heater will be supplied with current at its normal voltage.

The individual curl heaters are preferably connected with the distributing bars by means of flexible conductors and detachable contact clamps which are arranged in pairs, one from one group and one from the other group, thereby insuring that the operator will naturally and without special attention connect approximately the same number of heaters in each group. In case the operator does not connect an equal number of heaters in each group, the current flowing through one group will be only slightly more than through the other group.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not descriptive .thereof.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the permanent Waving machine comprises a base casting I0 within which is mounted a motor generator comprising a direct current motor ll directly coupled to an alternating current generator I2. The motor H is supplied with power from the mains l3 at approximately 110 volts or 220 volts, and its operation is controlled by a switch [4 in the motor circuit. The generator I! is adapted to generate alternating current, preferably from 25 to cycles, at approximately 6 volts, and this current is supplied to the relatively heavy conductors l5 and I6 through suitable leads I! and I8. 55

A switch If] is in series in the generator circuit so as to control the supply of power from the generator to the individual curl heaters.

For distributing the current from the generator to the individual curl heaters, there are preferably provided bus bars or distributor rings 2G, 25, and 22 which may be positioned immediately above the customers head and are supported on each other by the insulating strips 23, and on the floor by means of the conductors l5 and I5 which rise from the base IQ and are electrically connected with rings 28 and 2|.

The individual curl-heating devices to be supplied With power from the generator l2 may be of the type shown the patent to Durham and Finnegan, No. 1,926,987 of September 12, 1933, operating on approximately 3 volts, wherein a pair of electrodes are provided and are adapted to be wrapped about a wound tress of hair, with an absorbent member moistened with electrolytically-conducting hair waving lotion positioned between the electrodes and in electrical contact therewith. Current is thus conducted from one electrode to the other through the lotion to heat the lotion and generate moist hair-waving vapors therefrom. However, other types of heaters may be employed such as the type in which the heating pad includes an absorbent lotion-carrying member and a flexible metallic resistance grid supplied with power at low voltage.

Means are provided for connecting the heating pads 24 with the generator and for this purpose contact clamps 25 are provided which are preferably adapted to contact with both pad terminals, contact clamps 25 in turn being connected with the distributing rings by means of flexible conductors 21.

Figure 2 of the drawing shows a circuit diagram of the connections shown in Figure 1. The generator [2 supplies current to the distributing rings or bus bars 20 and 2|, and a third ring or bar 22 is provided which is insulated from bars 20 and 2l. One group of heaters 24 is connected between the bars 20 and 22 by means of flexible conductors 30 and 3|, Whereas the other group of heaters 24 is connected between the bars 2| and 22 by means of conductors 32 and 33. The number of heaters in one group is preferably substantially the same as the number of the other group, thereby placing the heaters 24 in any one group in parallel with each other, while the two groups are in series. In this way, the voltage drop in one group is substantially the same as the voltage drop in the other group and each of the heaters consumes practically the same amount of power.

The conductors 30, 3!, 32, and 33 are preferably flexible and one of each is encased within a single fabric covering to form a four-strand conductor 21, thereby grouping the contact clamps 25 in pairs so that each pair comprises one from each group. In this way, the operator, working natiu'ally, will be inclined to connect an equal number of heaters between the bars 20 and 22 and bars 2i and 22. By reason of the fact that all of the conductors 3| and 32 are connected to a common conductor 22, any one of the heaters from one group may be energized provided at least one of the heaters in the other group is in circuit, and in case it is desired to heat only a single curl, a dummy resistance having a conductivity substantially the same as that of the heater may be used in place of the second heater.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

l. A permanent waving machine of the heaterless type including in combination a source of low voltage current, a plurality of distributor supplied with power from said source at low voltage, another conductor insulated from said pair, and a plurality of groups each comprising a plurality of pairs of contacts connectible with permanent waving heating devices, and flexible conductors connecting said contacts in parallel with each other between said other conductor and one or the other of said bars, the contacts of one group being connected to one bar while those of the other groups are connected to their respective bars, said contacts and flexible conductors being arranged with each pair from one group closely adjacent to a pair from another group.

A permanent waving machine of the heaterless type including in combination a motor generator operating on commercial line voltage direct current to deliver low voltage alternating current, a pair of bus bars connected to the low voltage supply, a third conductor insulated from said pair, and two groups each comprising a plurality of pairs of contacts connectible with permanent waving heating devices, and conductors connecting said contacts in parallel with each other between said third conductor and one or the other of said bars, the contacts of one group being connected to one bar while those of the other group are connected to the other bar, said groups comprising an approximately equal number of contacts.

3. A permanent waving machine of the heaterless type including in combination a source of low voltage alternating current, a pair of bus bars connected to the low voltage supply, a third conductor insulated from said pair, and two groups each comprising a plurality of pairs of contacts connectible with permanent waving heating devices, and conductors connecting said contacts in parallel with each other between said third conductor and one or the other of said bars, the contacts of one group being connected to one bar while those of the other group are connected to the other bar, said groups comprising an equal number of contacts.

4. A permanent waving machine of the heaterless type including in combination a motor generator operating on commercial line voltage direct current to deliver low voltage alternating current, a pair of distributor rings supplied with power from said motor generator at low voltage, a third conductor insulated from said pair, and two groups each comprising a plurality of pairs of contacts connectible with permanent waving heating devices, and flexible conductors connecting said contacts in parallel with each other between said third conductor and one or the other of said rings, the contacts of one group being connected to one ring while those of the other group are connected to the other ring, said contacts and flexible conductors being arranged with each pair from one group closely adjacent to a pair from the other group.

5. A permanent waving machine 01' the heaterless type including in combination a motor generator operating on commercial line voltage direct current to deliver low voltage alternating current, a pair of distributor rings supplied with power from said motor generator at low voltage, a third conductor insulated from said pair, and two groups each comprising a plurality 01 pairs of contacts connectible with permanent waving heating devices, and flexible conductors connecting said contacts in parallel with each other between said third conductor and one or the other of said rings, the contacts of one group being connected to one ring while those of the other group are connected to the other ring, said groups comprising an equal number of contacts, said contacts and flexible conductors being arranged with each pair from one group closely adjacent to a pair from the other group.

6. A permanent waving machine of the heaterless type including in combination a source of low voltage alternating current, a plurality of bus bars connected to the low voltage supply, another conductor insulated from said pair, and a plurality of groups each comprising a plurality of pairs of contacts connectible with permanent waving heating devices, and flexible conductors connecting said contacts in parallel with each other between said other conductor and one or the other of said bars, the contacts of one group being connected to one bar while those of another group are connected to their respective bars.

7. A permanent waving machine of the heaterless" type including in combination a motor generator operating on commercial line voltage direct current to deliver low voltage alternating current, a pair of distributor rings supplied with power from said motor generator at low voltage, a. third conductor insulated from said pair, and two groups each comprising a plurality of pairs of contacts connectible with permanent waving heating devices, and flexible conductors connecting said contacts in parallel with each other between said third conductor and one or the other of said rings, the contacts of one group being connected to one ring while those of the other group are connected to the other ring, said groups comprising an equal number of contacts.

8. A permanent waving machine of the heaterless type including in combination a source of low voltage alternating current, a pair of bus bars connected to the low voltage supply, a third conductor insulated from said pair, and two groups each comprising a plurality of pairs of contacts connectible with permanent waving 20 HOBART N. DURHAM. 

